EC to announce dates for taking of photographs

Sunyani (B/A), Aug. 29, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Anyimadu, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), said most people who registered could not take their photographs due to the shortage of registration materials but gave the assurance that the Commission would soon announce the dates for the taking of photographs and the provision of the identity cards.

He said about 186,600 eligible voters registered in the region during the recent voters registration exercise. Mr Anyimadu disclosed this in an interview to the Ghana New Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Thursday.

Statistics available showed that 20,000 voters were registered in Sunyani municipality, 1,856 in Techiman, 11,062 in Berekum, 14,775 in Dormaa, and 7,833 in the Wenchi Municipality. Tain District registered 11,447, Nkoranza District 10,024, Asunafo North 9,626 and Asunafo South District 9,467.

In Asutifi District 5,351 registered, 11,492 registered in Pru District, 6,144 in Sene District, 7,448 in Atebubu-Amantin District, 8,910 in Kintampo North District, 5,105 in Kintampo South District, 71,003 in Tano South District, 6,816 in Tano North District, 8,877 in Jaman South and 6,268 in Jaman North.

Mr Anyimadu said this year's figures represented about 18.7 percent increase over the total registered voters in the year 2006. He added that about 1,295 challenged forms were received in the region during the exercise and registration review committees had been set in all municipalities and districts to deliberate on the concerns raised.

Mr Anyimadu stated that the committees comprised the district electoral officer, a traditional ruler, representatives of the various political parties, district director of education and the district police commander.

He said if an individual was challenged during the exercise it did not mean that the person was disqualified to register, "unless the committee comes out with its decision and if he/she is cleared by the committee the person will have the chance to be registered". Asunafo North had the highest number of the challenged forms of 255 whilst Jaman North, Nkoranza and Sene did not present any challenged forms to the Commission.

He appealed to the people who could not get the chance to take their photographs to seize the opportunity when the date was announced and encouraged the public to exercise their franchise during the December polls. 29 Aug. 08